Flue cleaner



March' 3, 1942. T, SAVICK, 2,275,320

FLUE'CLEANER Filed April 7, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheell 2 l// l/7L Wigan/e L '54W ck/ Inventor Patented Mar. 3, 1942 l 'clerics i FLUE CLEANER j `Theodor lSavki'fcki, Brooklyn,v N. Y.k 'i Application April 7; 1941, serial No. V387321 v1 Claim. (01.159162) y This invention relates to a iiue cleaner, and has for the primary object the provision of a device of this character which is especially adapted for eciently removing or cleaning foreign matter from boiler tubes and ues of various kinds and the construction thereof is such that a maximum amount of flexibility will be provided to assure carrying out of a cleaning operation quickly and eificiently and will'permit the cleaning elements to be easily and quickly removed when worn or damaged and replaced by others and thereby restore the device for ecient use at a very nominal cost. y

With these and other objects in view as will become m-ore apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement .of parts as Will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention,` reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,

illustrating a flue cleaner constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view illustrating th same.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating one of the spacers forming a part of the holder.

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating one of the Cleaning elements.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view illustrating one of the spacers.

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating one section of the handle and a clamping plate integral therewith.

Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating another clamping plate and tie bolts integral therewith.

Figure 8 is a side elevation, partly in section, illustrating a modication of the present invention.

Figure 9 is a plan view illustrating one of the cleaning elements of the modied form of the invention. v

Figure 10 is va perspective view illustrating one of the spacers of the modified form of the invention.

Referring in`detail to the drawings, the numeral 5 indicates la holder for a series of cleaning elements 6 each constructed of foraminous material and of elongated formation preferably having rounded end portions, as shown in Figure 2. Further it will be seen that the cleaning element is constructed of woven wire in which the portion of their lengths are left free so that said strands will contain a maximum amount of flexibility.

The holder 5 includes spacers 1 each including elongated plates 8 and 9 integrally connected by tubular members I I). The plates have openings I I aligning with the tubular members. The spacers 1 are arranged in superimposed relation having positioned therebetween the cleaning elements 6 and the lowermost `cleaning element is engaged by an elongated plate I2 forming an integral part of a handle I3. The plate I2 is also provided with openings which align with theA tubular members I0. The uppermost cleaning element is engaged by a clamping plate I4 having integral therewith tie rods I5 which are adapted to extend through the openings II and tubular members I0 of the spacers 'I as well as through the openings of the plate I2 and have threaded on their lower ends nuts I6 for retaining the holder 5 in assembled position.

It is to be understood that the tie rods are passed through the foraminous material of the cleaning elements. When the nuts I6 are turned home on the tie rods causes the spacers'1 and plates I4 and I2 to tightly grip the cleaning elements with the marginal portions thereof exposed for cleaning purposes andfree to flex so that a cleaning operation in a tube or flue can be rapidly and successfully carried out.

It is preferable that the handle I3 be composed of two or more sections detachably connected by a coupler I 8.

Referring to my modified form of the invention, the holder is indicated by the character I9 and includes a plurality of foraminous cleaning elements 20 of disc formation and are arranged between spacers 2|. clude a tubular portion 22 having integral yiianges 23. In this form of the invention the handle 24 is provided with a reduced portion 25 which extends through the cleaning elements and the spacers and through a washer 26 and receives thereon a nut 21. l A washer 28 is interposed between the shoulder of ythe handle 24 and the lowermost spacer 2I to coact therewith in clamping the lowermost cleaning element.

In either of the forms of the invention shown in the drawings and heretofore specifically described, it will beseen that the cleaning elements may be readily removed from the respective holders and new cleaning elements substituted v in lieu thereof when the cleaning elements bestrands extending in one direction for the major come worn or damaged permitting the tool to The spacers 2| each in-r be restored for efficient use at a very nominal cost.

Furthermore, it will be seen that a large portion of each cleaning element is exposed for flexing which will assure the cleaning element removing foreign material from a flue or a boiler tube.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what `I claim is:

In a cleaner of the class described, ay plurality of pairs of plates and tubular members connecting the plates of each pair together inspacedrelation, each plate having flat upper andlower faces, cleaning members having portions resting on the outer faces of the plates, the plates having holes therein forming continuations of the bores of the tubular members, a top plate for resting on the cleaning member which rests on the top plate of the upper pair, rods integrally connected with the top plate and passing through the holes of the plates, the tubular members and through the cleaning members, a bottom plate engaging the lower cleaning member and through which the lower ends of the rods pass, nuts on the lower ends of the rods and engaging the bottom plate and a handle depend- ,ing from the central portion of the bottom plate,

said cleaning members comprising woven wire strands and edges extending Well beyond the edges of said plates and comprising detached strand ends providing for maximum exibility of the cleaning members throughout said edges thereof.

THEODOR SAVICKI. 

